Michael Owen last night backed Sven-Goran Eriksson's stance on Wayne Rooney - despite the growing clamour for the 17-year-old to be handed a bigger role with England.

Although Eriksson's men have struggled for goals in recent games, Rooney will have to settle for a place on the bench at Sunderland's Stadium of Light tomorrow as the Three Lions put their Euro 2004 qualifying hopes to the test against Turkey.

For Owen - who was scoring goals at the 1998 World Cup finals at the tender age of 18 - the rookie striker's situation is something he understands clearly.

But the Liverpool ace believes Eriksson is right to use Rooney as a "part-time player" and has urged his teammate to be patient as he waits for his first international start.

"Wayne Rooney could be an unbelievable player - an England regular for the next decade," said Owen, who grabbed his 20th goal for his country in England's 2-0 win in Liechtenstein on Saturday. "But nobody knows yet so the way it's being handled at the moment is the right way.

"I expect he thinks he is ready now. That is how it is when you are young, I was the same. I can imagine him sitting on the bench at Everton thinking that he should be on all the time.

"When I was his age, I wasn't playing every game for Liverpool. I was rested a lot. David Moyes seems to be doing the same with Wayne and I imagine it will be the same with England.

"I never wanted to sit on the bench or in the stands and that is the right attitude to have. Now I'm older and wiser and I look back and realise that was the right way.

"You think that you can do anything when you're a kid. You've been playing five games a week since you were seven years old, I used to think like that. But it is important how young players are managed.

"I probably had a little more experience than Wayne when I first started playing for England. Having said that, though, there are a million-and-one different ways to get to the top."

England, who have struggled to hit top form since returning from last summer's World Cup finals in the Far East, have leaned heavily on Owen and captain David Beckham for goals in recent outings.

Emile Heskey, who has scored just four goals in 32 international appearances, has yet again found himself in the firing line but Owen insists that those who have suggested that Rooney should take his place are wrong.

"Can I compare Emile and Wayne? Wayne has only got two caps and he has not even played 90 minutes for England. He hasn't been around very long so it would be unfair to compare them," said the 23-year-old, aware of the importance of a home win on Wearside tomorrow.

"I do sympathise with Emile. The criticism of him has built up over a long period of time and unless he does something unbelievable on the pitch, you can feel it coming.

"But he had a hand in both goals in Liechtenstein. As a striker you have to have an influence on the game - by creating two goals on Saturday, Emile did that."

Owen and Rooney trained yesterday at Slaley Hall but will not start together at the Stadium of Light tomorrow. Despite the calls for the pair to be given a chance, the camp is unified on the matter.

Defender Sol Campbell, set to return from injury, added last night: "We have got to take account of Wayne's age and realise that just by being in the squad, we are helping his confidence and his game.

"He is a fantastic prospect who will get better and better but lets not kill him, lets not over-run him. When a young lad like Wayne comes along, we can't destroy him."